Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 15 | Page 9

fine
cabinet, with four big windows looking upon the garden, and on the
same floor, two paces distant, two other windows; and two at the side
in front of the chimney, and all these windows opened like doors. This
cabinet occupied the corner where the courtiers awaited, and behind
was an adjoining cabinet, where M. le Duc d'Orleans worked and
received distinguished persons or favourites who wished to talk with
him.
The word was given. Artagnan, captain of the grey musketeers, was in
the room (knowing what was going to happen), with many trusty
officers of his company whom he had sent for, and former musketeers
to be made use of at a pinch, and who clearly saw by these preparations
that something important was in the wind, but without divining what.
There were also some light horse posted outside these windows in the
same ignorance, and many principal officers and others in the Regent's
bed-room, and in the grand cabinet.
All things being well arranged, the Marechal de Villeroy arrived about
mid-day, with his accustomed hubbub, but alone, his chair and porters
remaining outside, beyond the Salle des Gardes. He enters like a
comedian, stops, looks round, advances some steps. Under pretext of
civility, he is environed, surrounded. He asks in an authoritative tone,
what M. le Duc d'Orleans is doing: the reply is, he is in his private
room within.
The Marechal elevates his tone, says that nevertheless he must see the
Regent; that he is going to enter; when lo! La Fare, captain of M. le
Duc d'Orleans' guards, presents himself before him, arrests him, and
demands his sword. The Marechal becomes furious, all present are in

commotion. At this instant Le Blanc presents himself. His sedan chair,
that had been hidden, is planted before the Marechal. He cries aloud, he
is shaking on his lower limbs; but he is thrust into the chair, which is
closed upon him and carried away in the twinkling of an eye through
one of the side windows into the garden, La Fare and Artagnan each on
one side of the chair, the light horse and musketeers behind, judging
only by the result what was in the wind. The march is hastened; the
party descend the steps of the orangery by the side of the thicket; the
grand gate is found open and a coach and six before it. The chair is put
down; the Marechal storms as he will; he is cast into the coach;
Artagnan mounts by his side; an officer of the musketeers is in front;
and one of the gentlemen in ordinary of the King by the side of the
officer; twenty musketeers, with mounted officers, surround the vehicle,
and away they go.
This side of the garden is beneath the window of the Queen's
apartments (when occupied by the Infanta). This scene under the
blazing noon-day sun was seen by no one, and although the large
number of persons in M. le Duc d'Orleans' rooms soon dispersed, it is
astonishing that an affair of this kind remained unknown more than ten
hours in the chateau of Versailles. The servants of the Marechal de
Villeroy (to whom nobody had dared to say a word) still waited with
their master's chair near the Salle des Gardes. They were, told, after M.
le Duc d'Orleans had seen the King, that the Marechal had gone to
Villeroy, and that they could carry to him what was necessary.
I received at Meudon the message arranged. I was sitting down to table,
and it was only towards the supper that people came from Versailles to
tell us all the news, which was making much sensation there, but a
sensation very measured on account of the surprise and fear paused by
the manner in which the arrest had been executed.
It was no agreeable task, that which had to be performed soon after by
the Regent; I mean when he carried the news of the arrest to the King.
He entered into his Majesty's cabinet, which he cleared of all the
company it contained, except those people whose post gave them aright
to enter, but of them there were not many present. At the first word, the

King reddened; his eyes moistened; he hid his face against the back of
an armchair, without saying a word; would neither go out nor play. He
ate but a few mouthfuls at supper, wept, and did not sleep ail night. The
morning and the dinner of the next day, the 14th, passed off but little
better.
CHAPTER CXIV
That same 14th, as I rose from dinner at Meudon, with much company,
the valet de chambre who served me said that a courier from Cardinal
Dubois had a letter for me, which he had not thought good to bring